LACTOBACILLUS GG PROMOTES RECOVERY FROM ACUTE NONBLOODY DIARRHEA IN PAKISTAN

A prospective, placebo controlled, triple blind clinical trial was car ried out in Pakistan to determine the effect of Lactobacillus GG on th e course of acute diarrhea in hospitalized children. Forty children (m ean age, 13 months) were enrolled and after rehydration received eithe r oral Lactobacillus GG (n = 21) or placebo (n = 19) twice daily for 2 days, in addition to the usual diet. The clinical course of diarrhea was followed during the treatment period. Features on admission into t he study groups were similar and were characterized by severe diarrhea , malnutrition and inappropriate management before presentation. Respo nse was evident on Day 2 when the frequency of both vomiting and diarr hea was less in the Lactobacillus group. In those who had presented wi th acute nonbloody diarrhea (n = 32), the percentage of children with persistent watery diarrhea at 48 hours was significantly less in the L actobacillus group: 31% vs. 75% (P < 0.01). No significant difference was observed by 48 hours in those presenting with bloody diarrhea. The relevance of this finding to the management of diarrhea in the tropic s is discussed.